The midfielder is hoping to strike gold for the Three Lions this summer

He was giving little away yesterday, but this gifted footballer knows he will start Monday’s Group G opener against Tunisia as one of Gareth Southgate’s first reserves with Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard taking the advanced midfield roles and Jordan Henderson sitting.

Loftus-Cheek’s successful loan season at Crystal Palace helped him force his way into Southgate’s squad and he is certainly ready to step in if Dele or Lingard falter.

Back in 1990 David Platt started the World Cup as a substitute, but he became one of the first picks after his dramatic 119th-minute winner against Belgium in the second round. Platt never looked back after that.

Loftus-Cheek, who won his first cap against Germany in November, added: “I’m excited to have an opportunity to play in the World Cup.

“Who knows, injuries can happen. I have to be ready if I don’t start the first couple of games. I’m training well and doing everything right.

“Right now I just want to train well, eat the right foods, sleep well — and if I do start, I will be ready.

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“Any game in the World Cup will be tough. The atmosphere brings a lot out of teams. But we are ready for a tough start and an aggressive game. It’s another level because of the amount of people who watch the World Cup.

“My way of playing football is that I train and play and mentally keep the same focus whether it’s at a World Cup or at club level. It stays the same for me, I just do the same thing.”

There is a confidence about Loftus-Cheek. His performances in the second half of the season at Selhurst Park, when he returned from injury, earned him the call.

After training with his team-mates all week in Russia, he is ready to make an impact. And he has already put himself forward to take a penalty if necessary in the knockout stages.

Loftus-Cheek added: “I’d love that. We’ve been practising them nearly every training session to make sure we’re ready if the time comes.

“That’s what football is about — those moments where it takes courage and heart to take one.”